Ruining a friends wheels..

I was racing at the weekend. NPS at Sherwood. My friend had lent me a pair of his wheels to race with, pretty pimp by all accounts: hand built carbon rims on American Classic hubs. I did have my own wheels, but he's got a fair few pairs of other wheels(he is sponsored) so was happy to lend me a set to race on.

Anyway, just my luck that some fool crashes into me (him being at fault, witnesses seeing what happened, and him apologising), and damaged the rear wheel beyond repair: fracture in carbon and a visible bend not comming out through releasing the spoke tension.

As you can imagine I was pretty annoyed to say the least, not only had my race been ruined, but a £300 wheel that wasn't even mine was ruined..

My friend is now being all awkward about it, and I can't help but feeling some sense guilt, despite the fact some other rider caused the damage.

I'm thinking of just buying him a new pair of rims, 717, DT's or something similar. Obviously not as flash, but I cannot afford to replace the damaged goods.

You shouldn't have used them in the first place if you couldn't afford to replace them IMO.

You need to talk it over with him, if he's sponsored he can presumably get things at a heavily subsidised price? The trade price on a DT XRC330 (assuming that's what it was?) is gonna be a fair bit more sensible than the retail.

I have always worked on the basis that if you borrow something and its damaged you replace it like for like..... Sorry but thats what I would expect. The fact that it was caused by someone else is not really your mates problem.
I know thats not much help but I can understand why he is pissed as he lent you something he wont get back.

I think your mate has every right to expect you to return his wheel in the condition he lent you it. If that means a new rim then so be it. It's your problem that someone crashed into you, not his. I'd be pretty pissed if I lent someone a fancy carbon wheel and got something average back though.

I can see where you guys are comming from and agree with some of the points, but I've asked other people who seem to think that when he handed them over, especially for a race, then there is going to be a chance that they could get damaged.

As for the rim in question, it wasn't a DT XRC330, but a hand made one, it had a chaps name over the top of a little sticker.

Replacing that like for like is out of the question I think, the wheels were from a swap, and are extremely rare.

I had a word with the guy after the race, he was apologetic and knew he was at fault, but in this instance, that means very little. He was with his family after, and I felt it would have been inappropriate to ask for some money towards a replacement.

And, yes I know its me who is responsible! I'm just trying to get other views on it.

If I rode into someone, through my own error, and damaged something of some other riders equipment, I would actually expect to pay in part towards a replacement. But maybe thats just me.

TBH though, you're going to have to talk it through with your mate: if the rims weren't brand new and say a season of racing old then I would not necessarily expect you to give him the new cost in return...suggest you pay him the 2nd hand value based on their pre-race and pre-crash condition?

2 points
as already said - You should replace the damaged rim like for like
Races are - by their - very nature competitive with accidents & errors all the time, you can't expect the other competitor to foot the bill even if he did cause the crash

I can see where you guys are comming from and agree with some of the points, but I've asked other people who seem to think that when he handed them over, especially for a race, then there is going to be a chance that they could get damaged.

It was a accident and it's not entirely Your fault, but You were given the wheels and You were made responsible for their condition. I doubt he handed them to You and thought that there is a chance of getting them damaged, he's Your mate and probably trust You enough to let You race on those wheels. If I would break something than I would feel obliged to bring it to the condition I received it in. And with my luck I just don't borrow any expensive stuff. Thing is, if he`s Your mate than have a honest chat with him and see what You can work out.

Now You probably won't borrow anything and stick to racing on Your own parts

I just can't believe you're thinking of giving your mate something half as good as a replacement. How does that make you feel ? do really believe that is what your mate deserves ?? Is that how you treat people, borrow a tenner and give a fiver back saying well sorry mate but I lost the other fiver ?

IMHO - this is actually more difficult than a lot of you are making out.

Wheels were borrowed and you have a duty of care for those wheels and as such should replace them.

However - presumably if he is a mate and did willingly loan them too you he may well have recognised you 'wouldn't / couldn't' afford to replace them should they get broken. So there is some responsibility there too. OK so it is a moral rather than a legal responsibility but it is still important.

Also worth bearing in mind is the imapact of his loss. How important are those wheels to him? If very important, he would not have lent them?

I guess it is down to you and him to have a chat and agree on suitable and acceptable compensation. What can each of you do to lessen the impact of the loss?

There is definately a moral here, and it revolves around the old statement 'never a borrower nor a lender be.'

Sorry - probably not helpful but, i hope balanced. Good luck. You do have my sympathy.

You broke it you bought it. I can imagine it being a bit of an arse especially if the accident wasn't your fault but in my oppinion you shouldn't even be asking this question - just replace his rim with one of the same quality. I've done similar things in the past and even if I didn't have the money to buy myself something I would find it to replace something of a mates I was responsible for.

I can't believe the subject of what happens if you trash them at the race didn't come up when he was lending you some bling carbon wheels to race on.

It's for sure not the guy who hit you's responsibility, you were in a race, shit happens.

Your friend was a bit naive lending you something that has some value to him and not getting an agreement you'd replace like for like (or with cash) if you broke them. Ultimately though even without an agreement you morally should be replacing them (with equivalents or cash value).